Russellville High School’s After-Prom Committee will host the first Cyclone alumni basketball game Saturday night to raise funds for the Class of 2013 After-Prom.

The committee is made up of the parents of the current senior class and the fund-raising event changes from year to year based on the tastes of the parents, but this year’s group hopes the event will become annual.

“It would be our hope that it would become annual,” David Prewett said. “There’s a fundraiser for After-Prom every year, but it’s a different group of parents and it’s their decision. We’re hoping this one will catch on.”

Currently, 30 former Cyclones and Lady Cyclones basketball players are registered to attend, including members of the 1985 state championship team. Former RHS Cyclone, Arkansas Razorback and NBA world champion Corlis Williamson will not be able to participate due to his head coaching obligations at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

According to Matt Kordsmeier, former Lady Cyclones head coach and committee member, Williamson’s help was invaluable in tracking down his former teammates.

“We tried to arrange for him to be there,” Prewett said, “We tried to pick a weekend that he didn’t have a game, but it just didn’t work out.”

Also in attendance will be former Cyclones and Arkansas Tech University head coach Marty Barnes, who coached the Cyclones from 1982-87, at ATU for 12 years and again at RHS. Barnes said he was excited to return to Russellville to participate.

“I think anytime you’ve coached a group of players for the number of years I did, to come back for an occasion where you get together with former players is special,” he said. “Russellville was a special time for me.”

Prior to his reign as the Cyclones head coach, Barnes was the assistant coach under Bobby Vint. Barnes said he was looking forward to seeing his old colleague again.

“I had such a special time being his assistant,” Barnes said.

After-Prom is meant to provide a safe, controlled alternative to the parties that are sometimes associated with Prom. It provides games, food and prizes for the students in the hopes they will not be tempted to spend their evening elsewhere.

“It’s very important,” Prewett said. “As a parent it’s very comforting to know that it’s a safe environment. We know there’s going to be no drugs and no alcohol and no one out driving under the influence. Also, I think it’s neat to have everyone there together one last time before they graduate.”

Ticket prices are $3 per person and will give you the opportunity to see several full-court and half-court games between alumni, the chance to win a Mini iPad and the knowledge your money went to help provide the senior class a safe environment on prom night.

“There’ll be a lot more entertainment there besides basketball,” Prewett said.

“We’re trying to get as many people involved in the community as possible,” Kordsmeir said. “We’ll have some full-court and half-court games going on. We’re going to mix in our younger teams, the fifth-grade and sixth-grade teams, and some other groups around the community.”

Barnes said the spectrum of Russellville alumni was wide.

“There’s a wide variance of players coming,” he said. “People who played under coach [Codey] Mann and on back. It’s creating that Cyclone tradition through the ages.

“It’ll give the fans a chance to see how everyone has matured and changed. I hope there is time for introduction and stuff where the players can mingle with the fans and reminisce. You get better with age. Isn’t that what the say?”